US President Donald Trump has named and condemned “repugnant” hate groups and declared that “racism is evil”.

The remarks came as part of a far more forceful statement than he had made earlier after deadly, race-fuelled weekend clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trump’s initial failure on Saturday to denounce the groups by name – instead he bemoaned violence on “many sides” – prompted criticism from fellow Republicans as well as Democrats.

This time, the president described members of the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists who take part in violence as “criminals and thugs” in a prepared statement he read during an unscheduled address from the White House.

“Racism is evil,” he said, singling out the hate groups as “repugnant to everything that we hold dear as Americans”.

“Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America,” he said.

In his remarks he also called for unity.

“We must love each other, show affection for each other and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry and violence,” he said. “We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.”

Meanwhile, some have joined in to support Trump.

President Trump denounces racism after Charlottesville violence FINALLY? FORCEFULLY, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.